Business leaders recognize the burden of rising healthcare costs to their companies. Some attempt to shift the financial burden to employees in high-deductible plans, but that approach doesn’t address the underlying problem of growing utilization of healthcare services due to chronic illness.

The good news? Many chronic conditions are preventable. That’s why investing in a corporate wellness program that drives healthy behavior change is good business. If your organization is considering a corporate wellness program, or wants to improve an existing one, read up on the latest trends in workplace wellness, important lessons from winners of the America’s 100 Healthiest Employers list, and ways to get inspired by corporate wellness leaders at the 4th annual Fitbit Captivate.

The 4th annual Fitbit Captivate is hitting Chicago on September 20th. And it's going to be better than ever. This year, we invite employers, health plans and worksite health providers to join the conversation about healthy behavior change, and how by changing behavior, we can change the world. Join Fitbit leadership, peers and industry experts in digital health and corporate wellness. Hear from executives at companies including Google, Solera, Limeade, and more. Get a taste of what you can expect here.

In collaboration with Springbuk, a leading health analytics firm, Fitbit Health Solutions brings you this report on the state of corporate wellness in the U.S. We used data assembled from more than 8,000 companies which comprise the Healthiest Workplaces in America^®, a leading independent recognition program for U.S. corporate population health, to see what America’s healthiest employers are doing to keep their workforce engaged and healthy. In this report, we’ll review recent history and new trends in workplace wellness, as well as best practices for designing and managing effective wellness programs. Download now.

The annual America’s 100 Healthiest Employers list celebrates the best in population health, taking into account organizational vision, success metrics, the impact on company culture, development of internal expertise, and use of technology. Fitbit Health Solutions partnered with Springbuk to dig into the data, and spoke with several employers on this year’s list to identify major lessons and trends. Download now.

Stanford University and its health system use a three-pronged approach to reducing burnout and improving wellness among its 32,000 employees, including top leadership, creating a culture of wellness, workplace practices that promote safety, quality and efficacy, and personal resilience. The latter encompasses traditional wellness programs that include facilities with 1,000 fitness classes and healthy living programs.

Sixty-four percent of US adolescents and young adults ages 14 to 22 reported having used health-related mobile apps, especially fitness apps, and 76% said the apps were either "somewhat" or "very" helpful, according to a Hope Lab and Well Being Trust survey. Researchers also found increased odds of app use among young women and teens with mild to moderate depressive symptoms.

The Office of Personnel Management instructed federal agencies to pay attention to employee wellness and spotlighted efforts to improve the health and well-being of federal employees and their families in a recent Federal Workforce Priorities report. The OPM encouraged agencies to collaborate and share ideas, partner with health care providers for onsite health screenings, communicate with employees about available programs and services, and offer health fairs, cooking demonstrations, fitness challenges, walks and education sessions.

Police officers in the Chicago suburb of Mundelein will have to undergo a physical fitness assessment and meet with a psychologist as part of an updated wellness plan. "The whole focus is to provide the officer with tools and techniques to manage stress better," said Police Chief Eric Guenther.

Fitbit Health Solutions, Fitbit Health Solutions, part of Fitbit, Inc., delivers health and wellness solutions designed to increase engagement, improve health outcomes and drive positive returns for employers, health plans and health systems. Our portfolio of hardware and software solutions includes an engaging wellness program and a proven health coaching platform that combines scalable technology with timely human care to drive healthy behavior change. Powered by Fitbit’s world-renowned suite of smartwatches, trackers and mobile apps, our solutions span the full spectrum of care, from wellness and prevention to chronic condition management.